The African Development Fund has approved a $9.82 million grant for Eritrea to Expand Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services

The African Development Fund has approved a $9.82 million grant for Eritrea to Expand Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services

The African Development Fund has approved a $9.82 million grant for Eritrea.
The Board of Directors approved the grant on 21 September 2026.

The money will support the Enhancing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Adaptation Project.
The Government of Eritrea and UNICEF will implement the project together.
The funds come from the Climate Action Window of the African Development Fund.

That window provides climate finance for low-income and transitional African countries.
The project will cut the distance many communities travel for drinking water.
People now walk long distances. The goal is to bring water points to about 500 metres.
It will also improve WASH facilities in health centres and schools.
Officials say the work will strengthen resilience to climate shocks and support social and economic stability.

The project will build 21 complete rural water supply systems.
It will rehabilitate and modernise 38 non-functional rural systems.
It will also upgrade WASH facilities in 10 health centres and 12 schools.

Other works include retention dams, earthworks, and tree planting in catchment areas to protect water sources.
The plan also covers new boreholes, rural water systems, upgrades to existing systems, and stronger climate knowledge and institutional capacity.